Systems and methods for file sharing through mobile devices

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are disclosed which relate to the sending and receiving of multimedia files between two devices while connected through a voice call. These devices are free to send any type of file through a direct connection without the need to hang up and call back just to see if the file was sent successfully. These methods work for a plurality of cellular and computer devices connected through a cellular network or other Internet Service Provider.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to telecommunications. More specifically,the present invention relates to the transfer of multimedia filesbetween two or more devices during a voice call without the need to hangup and call back, via various methods, including connecting multiplecellular devices, a cellular device and a computer, multiple computers,or any other combination of electronic devices having a connection withthe internet.

2. Background of the Invention

Cellular communication is an area of increasing technology andavailability. At the end of 2005, a CTIA study showed that 69% of theUnited States population subscribed to a cellular telephone service.Cellular telephones work on a network of receiving towers thatcommunicate with a central location. These towers are constantly beingbuilt in an effort to create a seamless network across the globe. Notonly is this market more popular, but the technology is growing.Cellular companies have now opened data pipelines for deliveringbroadband internet straight to its customer's phones.

As this integration between mobile services and internet servicesdevelops, there are many applications that can benefit from the couplingof this trend with increasingly powerful and multi-functional mobiledevices. Besides voice audio, the existing infrastructure permitstransfer of audio, video, and other multimedia across cellular networks.Uses of this facility could range from transmitting personal photographsbetween users to sending live video or location information to an E911operator.

As phones become more like computers, users want to exchange more thanmere conversations. Most new mobile phones are capable of performingmany functions beyond basic telephony. Today's typical mobile phone is afusion of a digital camera or camcorder, PDA, and digital music player,with room for add-ons like USB, Firewire, IR, or BLUETOOTH which givesthem the ability to communicate with other devices independent of thecellular network. However, these phones are still essentiallycommunication devices. It's not difficult to combine a digital camerawith a music player, but mobile phone manufacturers have stepped up tothe additional challenge of being able to integrate this functionalitywith the need to send and receive voice calls on demand.

The next step is to fuse these functions to communicate more than justvoice. There exists a lot of potential for new technology and functionwith an IP-enabled cellular network, which essentially assigns eachcellular device an IP address just like a home computer when connectedto the internet. This allows communication of pictures, film, and otherdata objects with any other device on the internet, including a homecomputer, thereby exploiting the functionality of the phone/camera/mp3player. There exists an infrastructure that utilizes the availability offast data-transfer protocols, standardized technologies, increasinglypowerful wireless devices. It receives large amounts of investment bycellular operators in ensuring that their networks can implement thesetechnologies.

It is the IP-Multimedia System, or IMS, which is essentially a system bywhich mobile operators can offer and charge for discrete services, thatare usually available on the internet, alongside currently offeredservices. This architecture works with any packet-switching network, andis IP-based. Therefore it has tremendous potential for services likeVoice-over IP (VoIP), push-to-talk, videoconferencing, IM, presenceinformation, etc. An example of a standardized signaling protocol is theSession Initiation Protocol, or SIP. SIP allows two devices in a networkto find each other and open lines of communication easily, and is asignificant part of IMS.

However, this existing infrastructure is not being utilized to itsfullest potential. Currently, to send multimedia files to another mobileuser, one is limited to either using the Multimedia Message Service(MMS), email, or via an instant messaging (IM) program that traversesthe IM service provider network. MMS has its share of inconveniences. Itcannot be used during a voice call, and MMS technology is fairlyproprietary and non-scaleable. Also, the message has to traverse an MMSCenter which is a temporary storage center for the message. The messageis held there until the receiving device is located. The MMS Center willonly hold the message for so long, and it can be unreliable. Email hassome disadvantages as well. Though it has been the default option forsending files across the internet, most phones have limited emailcapabilities, and cannot access internet mail while engaged in a voicecall. Sending files over instant messaging is even more burdensome. Bothmobile devices must be capable of running IM software, the software mustrun on the same IM protocol, and the software must have capability ofsending and receiving files. Of the popular IM software programs thatexist on mobile devices, most of the programs do not support filetransfer.

What is needed is a method that allows multimedia files to betransferred from one user to another in the midst of a voice callbetween the two users. The current state of technology forces a user tohang up, send a multimedia file through one of the above mentionedservices, like MMS, then call back to see if the transfer wassuccessful. Even if it was successful the transfer might not beinstantaneous, requiring both users to pause for an unknown amount oftime to allow the MMS Center, email server, or IM server to forward themultimedia file. Although it works, efficiency is the main purpose ofhaving this capability on one's phone. Most people would rather send thefiles through their home computer, and know they will reach theirdestination soon, than try to send the file through their mobile device.

Ideally, this process would involve minimal work on the user's part,allowing software to take care of all the technical negotiations, andefficient employment of the existing infrastructure. When connected to auser in a voice call, the user should not need to know the IP address ofthe connected device. These devices are already connected via voice, andsoftware should be able to find the IP address without userintervention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is such a technique of transferring multimediafiles from one user to another in the midst of a voice call. While usersare connected in the voice call, one user can select on his mobiledevice to make a direct connection to the other user in order to send amultimedia file to the other user during the call. That user can eitheraccept or reject this offer to make a direct connection by making thatselection on her mobile device. If she accepts, the direct connection isopened and these users can send any file to the other, whether it be apicture, sound, movie, or data file, all while still talking through themobile devices.

Furthermore, the present invention works with the forms of communicationthat network carriers currently have, such as GSM, CDMA, and TDMAnetworks, and others. This also allows mobile devices to connect toother devices on the internet that may not be cellular telephones, likecomputers or PDA's. The direct connection utilized between the twoconnecting devices can be secured as well using any of the current formsof encryption.

In one embodiment of the present invention, two users with cellulartelephones on a GSM/GPRS network can send multimedia files to each otherwhile connected in a voice call. So if a proud father is talking to hismother and really wants to send pictures of his new baby to her, he cando so while he is on the phone. The father just establishes a directconnection, and he can then send any multimedia file he wants withouthaving to hang up and call back to make sure the files were receivedcorrectly.

In another embodiment of the present invention, one user with a cellulartelephone on a GSM/GPRS network connects to a computer over the internetusing Voice-Over IP or VOIP. This expands the usability of the previousembodiment because both users do not need cellular telephones to make adirect connection. Since the cellular telephone has IMS capability, iteasily obtains an IP address that can be seen and used to communicatewith by any computer or other device on the internet. This setup worksin substantially the same way. Tom calls his mother from his VOIP phoneto her cellular telephone and wants to send her pictures of his newbaby. He establishes a direct connection in the background and sendsover all the pictures he wants while still talking to his mother.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an overview of the flow of data between two devicesconnected through both a voice connection and a file transfer sessionaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the steps to obtaining an IP address for a cellulartelephone connecting to IMS according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 shows the steps to establishing a direct PDP connection over acellular network during a voice call according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the steps to disconnecting the direct connection over acellular network during a voice call according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a technique of sharing files with the person ordevice that one is connected to in a voice call as shown in FIG. 1. Thisis accomplished by establishing a direct IP connection between the twodevices 102, 107 that are connected in a voice call 110 without the needfor either device to hang up. Once a direct IP connection 126 isestablished, the users can send files back and forth to each other, suchas pictures, sound clips, music, video, or any other file. One suchmethod of making the direct IP connection possible is through the IPMultimedia Subsystem or IMS 106.

IMS 106 is a system by which mobile operators can offer discreteservices, usually available on the internet, alongside currently offeredservices. These services can include music, games, picture downloads,direct multimedia sessions, text messaging, or direct voice connections.An IMS enabled cellular telephone 102 can be assigned an IP address,which other devices on the internet 107 can use to connect to thecellular telephone through gateways 105. These other devices 107 can becomputers, servers, other IMS enabled cellular telephones, or manyothers. This means a multimedia session between two IMS users, betweenan IMS user and a user on the Internet, and between two users on theInternet is established using the same protocol.

The registration of a cellular telephone with IMS to receive an IPaddress is shown in FIG. 2. The user's device, or User Equipment, UE202, receives its IP address from IMS upon request. From a cellulartelephone, this request is first sent from the UE 202 to the nearesttower 203. The tower 203 then relays the request to a server 204. Theserver 204 then makes a connection with the UE 202 where it obtainsauthentication. Once authenticated, the UE 202 then tries to open aPacket Delivery Protocol, or PDP, connection to the internet to receivean IP address. This request is relayed from the tower 203 to the server204 and then to a gateway 205, where the PDP packet is sent to theinternet. The internet allocates an IP address and relays that addressback through the gateway 205, server 204, and tower 203. The PDPresponse is received by the UE 202, which then allows it to send andreceive IP datagrams. An IP datagram is a packet of information, whichgets translated into a PDP by the gateway 205 before reaching the UE202.

Prior to the voice call, both of the UE's 202 are either SIP capable orIMS capable, which means they register to an IMS network and are givenan IP address. After registration, the UE's 202 should be able toperform SIP based calls to each other and communicate with each otherusing their SIP addresses.

The process of setting up the direct connection 326 is illustrated inFIG. 3. First, a voice call 310 is initiated between User A 301 and UserB 308. Accompanying the request to set up the voice call 310 can be arequest to check the parameters of each of the UE's 302, 307 todetermine if they are capable of transferring data between the two. Theinstruction request 310 would be a request for a voice call and contentcall request.

Once the voice call 310 is setup, an SIP invitation 312 is sent fromUser A's UE 302 to User B's UE 307 inviting User B 308 to the IP addressof User A's UE 302. User B 308 receives the request in the background,because there is no reason to have guaranteed bandwidth dedicated to it.The invitation 312 travels from User A's UE 302 to the nearest tower 303where it is relayed to a server 304. The server 304 then relays theinvitation through a gateway 305 where it is translated into an IPdatagram, a form IMS 306 can understand. Once it has been translated IMS306 finds the IP address of User B's UE 307. If IMS 306 is successful infinding the IP address of User B's UE 307 it sends a message 315 to UserA's UE 302 immediately telling User A 301 that IMS is trying to connectto User B 308.

The invitation is relayed back through the gateway 305, server 304, andtower 303 nearest User B's UE 307 and User B 308 receives the invitation314 with an option to accept or decline. If User B 308 declines, thenthe direct connection 326is dropped but the voice call 310 stillcontinues. If User B 308 accepts, then an acceptance message 317, 318 issent back through the system to User A's UE 302. This acceptance message317, 318 not only sends simply the message of acceptance but also tellsUser A's UE 302 what type(s) of media it is capable of receiving, suchas video, audio, or pictures. The acceptance message 317, 318 isfollowed by a handshake between the two UE's 302, 307 over a primary PDPconnection.

When User A 301 is ready to send a file, User A 301 selects a file tosend from a menu on the device 319. A message is sent to User B's UE 307where User B 308 can either accept or reject the file. If User B 308accepts, then a secondary PDP connection is established to send themedia through a dedicated Quality of Service or QoS 320. User A's UE 302sends a message to User B's UE 307 opening the secondary PDP connectionfor file transfer. User B's UE 307 negotiates with User A's UE 302 tofind an acceptable speed of transfer and packet size. This is normallythe fastest speed the devices can handle in their current locationsubject to provider limitations, such as the data plan User B 308 paysfor. After this negotiation 321, 322 is complete the file is sentthrough and is received on User B's UE 307. Once the transfer iscompleted, the secondary PDP connection is dropped. These steps arerepeated, starting with the file selection, for each file User A 301wishes to send. User B 308 may select and send any file as well usingthe same steps as User A 301.

While transferring files, a user may need to send a sensitive file. Ifthis is the case the user has the option of sending the file over asecure connection. User A 301 would simply select another option fromhis device to secure the connection for this or any number of files. Asthe file is transferred it will be encrypted on User A's UE 302 anddecrypted on User B's UE 307. Their UE's 302, 307 can be equipped withany of the many forms of encryption that exist.

Once all the file transfers have completed, the session can be released,as shown in FIG. 4. User A 401 selects to release the session from amenu on the device 411. A message 412 is sent from User A's UE 402 toUser B's UE 407 either asking for a release in the session, or forcing arelease in the session. If User B 408 accepts the release, a message 414is sent back to User A's UE 402 to close the connection. If the releaseis accepted or forced, User A's UE 402 closes the connection 415 withthe server 404 immediately. User B 408 can request or force a sessionrelease as well using the same steps as User A 401.

This technique works for many cellular networks, and has manyapplications. Once such embodiment of this invention is a cellulartelephone on a GSM/GPRS network connecting to another cellular telephoneon a GSM/GPRS network. GSM stands for Global Standard for MobileCommunication, and is the technology behind many mobile carriers today.GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Service, and is the standard forsending data in packets across the GSM network, allowing multiple usersto send data using the same channel.

The cellular telephones connect in a voice call over the GSM network.Once established, the first user pushes the keys on his cellulartelephone to send a request to the other user to initiate the filesharing session. This request is sent through the tower to a GPRS serverknown as a Serving GPRS Support Node or SGSN. From the SGSN the requestis relayed through a GPRS gateway known as a Gateway GPRS Support Nodeor GGSN. Once the request is received by the other user's cellulartelephone, she can opt to accept it or reject it. If accepted, thecellular telephones attempt to connect to each other using the GPRSTunneling Protocol or GTP, the defining IP protocol for the GPRS system.GTP is used for the primary PDP connection, which is the basic constantconnection for sending requests and the secondary PDP connection, whichopens once a file starts transferring.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a cellular telephone on aGSM/GPRS network connecting to a personal computer using a VoIPconnection. The first user's cellular telephone is connected over theGSM network which is translated through a gateway to the second user'sInternet Service Provider, which then relays the signal to the IPaddress of the second user's personal computer. The first user or thesecond user can initiate the file transfer session by simply pressing akey or pattern of keys. The first user's cellular telephone has alreadyregistered with IMS and has been given an IP address. The cellulartelephone and personal computer can use each other's IP addresses tofind each other over the internet and establish a primary directconnection. Once established, the users are free to send multimediafiles to each other using a secondary connection while still talking.

The foregoing disclosure of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations andmodifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. Thescope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appendedhereto, and by their equivalents.

Further, in describing representative embodiments of the presentinvention, the specification may have presented the method and/orprocess of the present invention as a particular sequence of steps.However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on theparticular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process shouldnot be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one ofordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps maybe possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth inthe specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims.In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process of thepresent invention should not be limited to the performance of theirsteps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readilyappreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within thespirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A network system for sharing files between at least two communicationdevices engaged in voice communication, the network system comprising:an IP Multimedia Subsystem for registering the plurality ofcommunication devices, the registering including assigning a unique IPaddress to each communication device; a SIP-based voice connectionbetween the engaged communication devices over the IP MultimediaSubsystem; a packet-based data connection to share a file between theengaged communication devices over the IP Multimedia Subsystem; and aplurality of gateways between the engaged communication devices and anIP network; wherein the gateways initiate, maintain, and terminate thepacket-based data connection while engaged in the SIP-based voicecommunication, the gateways being configured to initiate thepacket-based data connection by transmitting a packet-based dataconnection request; wherein the request including a request to checkparameters of one of the engaged communication devices, and receiving amessage of acceptance, the message of acceptance including informationabout media receiving capabilities of said one of the engagedcommunication devices; wherein the information about media receivingcapabilities including one or more types of media the said one of theengaged communication devices is capable of receiving, the one or moretypes including video, audio, or pictures; wherein the packet-based dataconnection and the SIP-based voice connection use a cellular network,and wherein the packet-based data connection uses a Packet DeliveryProtocol (PDP).
 2. The network system in claim 1, wherein the twodevices are cellular telephones, computers, PDA's, or any combination oftwo devices.
 3. The network system in claim 2, wherein the cellulartelephone connects through a GSM, CDMA, or TDMA network.
 4. The networksystem in claim 2, wherein the computers and PDA's connect via Wi-Fi,WiMax, Cable modem, DSL modem, phone line modem, or any equivalentpacket-based network.
 5. The network system in claim 1, wherein the IPaddresses are allocated by an Internet Service Provider.
 6. The networksystem in claim 1, wherein the packet-based data connection request issent using a Session Initiation Protocol.
 7. The data connections inclaim 1, wherein the PDP connection uses the SIP connection to send andreceive a plurality of file requests and the packet-based dataconnection to send and receive a plurality of files.
 8. The networksystem of claim 1, wherein the packet-based data connection establishedbetween IP addresses uses the Realtime Transfer Protocol (RTP).
 9. Thenetwork system of claim 1, wherein the file elected to send can be amultimedia file of any type.
 10. The file in claim 9, wherein themultimedia file can be a picture, sound, video, or song.
 11. A method ofsharing files comprising: establishing a SIP-based voice connectionbetween a first and a second device connected to the internet; assigningfirst and second IP addresses respectively to the first and seconddevice; receiving a request for a packet-based data connection from thefirst device, the request including a request to check parameters of thesecond device; receiving an acceptance of the request from the seconddevice, the acceptance including information about media receivingcapabilities of the second device; establishing a packet-based dataconnection from the first IP address of the first device to the secondIP address of the second device using an IP Multimedia Subsystem; andelecting to send a file through the packet-based data connection;wherein the information about media receiving capabilities including oneor more types of media the second device is capable of receiving, theone or more types including video, audio, or pictures; wherein thepacket-based data connection is established while the devices maintainthe SIP-based voice connection; wherein the packet-based data connectionand the SIP-based voice connection use a cellular network, and whereinthe packet-based data connection uses a Packet Delivery Protocol (PDP).12. The method in claim 11, wherein the two devices are cellulartelephones, computers, PDA's, or any combination of two devices.
 13. Themethod in claim 12, wherein the computers and PDA's connect via Wi-Fi,WiMax, Cable modem, DSL modem, phone line modem, or any equivalentpacket-based network.
 14. The data connections in claim 11, wherein thePDP connection uses the SIP-based connection to send and receive aplurality of file requests and the packet-based data connection to sendand receive a plurality of files.
 15. The method of claim 11, whereinthe file elected to send can be a multimedia file of any type.
 16. Thefile in claim 15, wherein the multimedia file can be a picture, sound,video, or song.
 17. A method of sharing files comprising: establishing aSIP-based voice connection between a first and a second device;assigning first and second IP addresses respectively to the first andsecond device; receiving a request for a packet-based data connectionfrom the first device, the request including a request to checkparameters of the second device; receiving an acceptance of the requestfrom the second device, the acceptance including information about mediareceiving capabilities of the second device; establishing a packet-baseddata connection from the first IP address of the first device to thesecond IP address of the second device using an IP Multimedia Subsystem;and electing to send a file through the packet-based data connection;wherein the information about media receiving capabilities including oneor more types of media the second device is capable of receiving, theone or more types including video, audio, or pictures; wherein thepacket-based data connection is established while the devices maintainthe SIP-based voice connection; wherein the packet-based data connectionand the SIP-based voice connection use a cellular network, and whereinthe packet-based data connection uses a Packet Delivery Protocol (PDP).